Werder Bremen’s campaign to woo Per Mertesacker into a return to the Bundesliga has continued with club captain Clemens Fritz admitting he had discussed the move with the Arsenal defender.
Mertesacker’s Arsenal contract expires at the end of the season and he has intimated that his future could be away from the Premier League, saying earlier this month that he would consider offers from clubs in January.
Sporting director Frank Baumann had already said that Werder were considering a move for Mertesacker, who departed for Arsenal in 2011, and Fritz said on Wednesday that he had discussed a move with his former team-mate.
"We have talked about [a possible move]," he told Bild. "Per would be a great addition to Werder - as a footballer and as a person.
"It would be a good thing for the club when Per would opt for Bremen."
Serge Gnabry has already made the move from Arsenal to Werder this season and Baumann confirmed that Mertesacker’s future had been discussed during talks with the winger.
Werder are not the only one of Mertesacker’s former sides who hope to bring the 32-year-old back to Germany. His first side Hannover have publically expressed their interest in a deal during the summer though they admit they must first achieve promotion from Bundesliga 2.
